Bicycle amusement apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

T. W. EGK. Y BICYCLE AMUSBMENT APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6,1904.

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No MODEL.

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PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904.

T. W. ECK.

BICYCLE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS. l

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6. 1904.

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NO MODEL.

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No. 762,232. PATBNTED JUNE '7, 1904.

T. W. ECK. BICYCLE AMUSEMENT APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 6. 1904. N0 MODEL.

winesses v Invenor: ma gamma. Thomas ZU. Eck.

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THOMAS IV. FCK, OF'NEIV YORK, N. Y.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Patented .Tune '7.- 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

, ASSIGNOR TO ARTHUR T. PRESCOTT,

BICYCLE AMUSENIENT APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 762,232, dated J une 7,1904.

Application filed January 6, 1904.

L/'o all when@ it party concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. Een, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented an Improvement in Bicycle Amusement Apparatus, of whichthe following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings,is a specification, like letters on the drawings IO representinglikeparts.

This invention aims to provide a novel amusement device or apparatus tobe used by a rider of bicycles and the like.

Prior to my invention what is known as the I5 bicycle-whirl has beendevised and used,

consisting of a generally conical and sometimes in part cylindricalinclosure, usually of upright slats, in which the operator rides thebicycle in a circle, gradually climbing the 2O sides of the whirl untilhe is riding around with his body and machine nearly or quite in ahorizontal plane, centrifugal force keeping him in position.

My present invention relates generally to au apparatus used in thismanner, and comprehends a spherical hollow whirl or cage within whichthe rider visibly operates or performs. My invention also comprehendsmounting this spherical or, in fact, any whirl so that it may be movedwhile the rider is operating within. For example, my inventioncomprehends rotating it about its own axis or shifting its axis eitherwith or without rotating it about its own axis and combining it withother features and devices calculated to add to the amusement effect ofthe whole. These, with other features of my invention, will be betterunderstood from a description of an apparatus illustrating oneembodiment thereof, it being understood, however, that my invention isnot limited to the particular embodiment here to be described.

In the drawings, Figure l in elevation illustrates generally anapparatus containing one embodiment -of my invention. Fig. 2 is anenlarged detail view illustrating one manner of constructing thespherical whirl. Figs. 3 and 4L are details illustrating theconstruction Serial No. 187,910. (No model.)

of the whirl, Fig. 2; and Fig. 5, a view illustrating a differentembodiment of my invention.

In the particular embodiment of my invention selected for illustrationherein and shown in the drawings, referring first to Fig. 1,thespherical whirl is indicatedV at A, the same being constructed fromdesired materials and in desired manner to enable a bicyclerider toperform within while at the same time visible more or less distinctlyfrom without. The preferred construction of this whirl is' illustratedin Figs. 2. 3, and 4f. Referring to these figures, I provide the top andbottom hub-castings a a', adapted to receive and support the ends of thearc-shaped ribs I). As herein shown, the bottom hub-casting a isprovided with a series of circularly-arranged eye plates or perforationsa2, With which may be engaged the hooks o', upon the lower ends of asmany ribs o, these ribs, so engaged or hooked at their lower ends,having ltheir upper (also hooked) ends b2 brought together toward and atthe top casting a and are there firmly secured in suitable manner, as bypassing a contractible band around the same. This band may have aturnbuckle or other device by which it may be contracted so as to bindtogether said upper ends 722 firmly upon and in engagement with the saidupper casting a. The sh little-like sections between adjacent ribs I)are covered or closed in in suitable manner,

las by ordinary woven-wire fabric or netting c of sufficient strength tosupportthe rider between adjacent ribs. Preferably, however, the entiresphere will be divided into halves along its horizontal plane ofgreatest circumference, the ribs L being divided there-at and detachablyconnected in suitable manner,`as by the clamping devices 3', adjacentribs at the plane of division being connected,'respec tively, by thecross-pieces b", which likewise may be secured one to another byclamping devices bi. By this construction the whirl as a whole may beerected sectionally and therefore more conveniently, and, furthermore,it is made possible to build up the lower hemispherical portion of thewhirl and use the same init ` desired fashion.

without the remaining top hemispherical portion thereof. One or more ofthe shuttleshaped sections or half-sections c maybe temporarily omittedfor the entrance or exit of the performer. However constructed and ofwhatever materials it is possible for the performer riding within thewhirl in a circular path to mount g'radually the inclined sides of thewhirl until finally riding at least in the horizontal plane of thedivision-line at 3 b4. It is even possible that he might rise above thehorizontal plane of greatest circumference of the whirl, especially ifaided therein by suitable supports from within which would be invisiblefrom without. For example, the upper hub-casting c may have an axialaperture through which a wire Z may be led to the interior of the whirland provided at its end with a hook or handle d', which mightbe engagedby the rider and gradually raised from without to assist the rider inriding' to attain to a level considerably above the division-line 3 L*referred to. Having' attained to such unusual level, the rider mightrelease himself from the assisting-wire (Z or retain his engagementtherewith, as seemed desirable or necessary. In any event, however, thiswire should be practically invisible from without the whirl; though forclearness not so shown herein. This whirl may be mounted in any In Fig.1 I have shown it as mounted in an elevated position within a suitableframe comprising the upriglits e c and the top and bottom cross memberse e2. The upper hub-casting a may have a tubular neck a, which at itsupper end is provided with a universal or ball connection a" with asuspendingshaft a5, also preferably tubular, and mounted herein in anarc-shaped guideway f. The bottom hub-casting a of the whirl may beprovided with a similar though depending tubular neck or shaft a,similarly connected by a universal or ball-and-socket connection a7 withthe supporting-shaft a". vBy applying power to either of the connectionsai or as (herein shown the connection as) the whirl may be rotated aboutits own axis simultaneously with the performance, of the rider within,thus to increase the mystifying' and entertaining effect of theexhibition. In the present instance I have provided this connection a5with asprocket orbelt-driven wheel f, which is engaged by an endlessbelt or chain f2, passed about a driving-wheelf3 at one end and anidler-wheel f* at its opposite end, whereby to drive the said wheel fand its connection and the whirl, whatever may be the position of saidwheel j", within the length of the belt. The driving-wheel f 3 may bedriven in suitable manner, as by a shaft]L15 and a crank driving devicef, conveniently connected therewith. While the rider is performingwithin the whirl, the axis of the whirl may be swung from left toright,and vice versa, about the universal connection a7 at the bottom asa fulcrum, it being' guided in such movements by the upper connection(t5 and the arc-shaped guidef described, and the rotation of the whirlabout its own axis may be continued during this vibrating movement, ifdesired, by the driving connections described or other connectionssuitable for the purpose, or, if desired, the connection as may bedisconnected from beneath the whirl and the latter permitted to remainsuspended in mid -air from the universal connection ai at the top, inwhich position it may be swung like a pendulum or gyrated with its axisdescribing the surface of a cone with its apex at a4, all while therider is performing within the whirl and, if desired, simultaneouslywith the rotation of the whirl about its own axis.

It will be readily apparent that the performance of the rider within thewhirl, following always a circular path, would tend in itselfl to rotatethe whirl about its own axis, and therefore the whirl may beself-rotated or automatically rotated by the performance of the rider orby the positive rotating means described. In fact, when suspended orfree to be moved bodily the movements of the rider within the whirl maybe relied upon to gyrate or swing the whirl either independently orconjointly with the relative movement thereof, all these various effectsserving to heighten the amusement or entertainment derived from theperformance in connection with the apparatus.

Below the whirl and supported, preferably rigidly, relative thereto is acircular tracktable 7i, which may be used by the rider upon the outsideof the whirl to operate for conjoint effect with the rider within thewhirl, the two, it may be, ridingv in opposite directions.

Depending Withinthe whirl is a curtain m of suitably-colored material,adapted to be connected with the riders machine or otherwise operated inconnection therewith, so that during the performance it will follow theperformer in his circles within the whirl, swinging outwardly bycentrifugal action as it is carried around inside and giving a peculiar,preferably generally colored or decorative, effect to the scene, itpresenting a moving color scheme following or in conjunction with theoperator. This constitutes one form of what, for want of abetter term, Icall a mystifying device, meaning by this a device which containedwithin the whirl is operated or moved by or in connection with theperformer or presented in connectionwith him in such a manner as tomystify the scene and render it more perplexing to the onlooker than itwould otherwise appear.

The assistance-wire Z may be carried out at the top of the frame anddown at the side TOO IIO

IIS

` hook fitted with a turnbuckle or other means for contracting it,thereby to support the structure against bursting pressure from within.

Whether wholly spherical or hemispherical in shape the whirl hereindescribed is more easily mounted from within than one having straightconical sides or a series of ring-like steps of increasing inclination.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated an apparatus containing some of thefeatures only of my invention, but which may conveniently be used inshows, &c. The whirl may be constructed as described with reference toFigs. 1 and 2; but it is here shown mounted in a different framecomprising the base m, uprights 722/, and top m2. the whirl being drivenby a chain or belt m3 from an operating device M, comprising the cranksm4 and the meshing gears m5, mounted on the drivingshaft m6. Thisoperating device is connected with the whirl-frame by adjustable means,shown as the telescoping rods m7 m8, adjustably held at m.

I do not herein claim the invention set forth in this application in itsbroadest terms, since such matter is claimed broadly in my applicationfor an amusement apparatus, filed this 12th day of May, 1904.

rl`his invention obviously is capable of various embodiments, all withinthe spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Hence my invention isnot limited to the embodiment here disclosed.

Having described my invention and without limiting myself in thematter'of details, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,isv 1. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl made up of apluralityof frames secured one to another, each frame having wire-netting whirlhaving a hub-like member and sections ,having ribs adapted to be hookedthereto, and

means to secure the outer ends of said sections one to another.

6. An amusement apparatus comprising a knockdown spherical whirl.

7 An amusement apparatus comprising a spherical whirl made up ofsections, a hublike member to which one of the ends of said sectionsAare first attached, and an opposed hub-like member toward which theopposite ends of said sections are ingathered, and means for securingthe ingathered ends of said sections to and at said opposed hub-likemember.

8. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and an assisting devicedepending axially relative thereto.

9. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and an assisting devicedepending within it adapted to assist a performer during a performancewithin the whirl.

10. An amusement apparatus comprisinga whirl, an assisting devicedepending within the circle thereof, and means to raise and lower saidassisting device.

11. In an amusement apparatus the combination with a whirl of atrack-table in juxtaposition thereto.

12. In an amusement apparatus the combination with a whirl of amystifying device suspended therein.

13. In an amusement apparatus the combination with awhirl of amystifyingdevice arranged therein and means to move the sam'e in connection withthe movements therein of the performer.

14. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and means to move itduring independent movement of the rider therein.

15. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl rotatable on a normallyvertical axis and means to rotate said whirl and provision for aperformance therein.

16. An amusement apparatus comprisinga whirl and means to support thesame with its axis in di'erent positions.

17. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and means to shift theaxis thereof during the performance of the rider therein.

18. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and means to gyrate theaXis thereof.

19. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and means to swing theaxis thereof.

20. An amusement apparatus comprisinga whirl pendent from a singlepoint.

21. An amusement apparatus comprisinga whirl, means to change theposition thereof, and means to rotate it in any of its positions.

2,2. An amusement apparatus comprising a whirl and a track-table injuxtaposition thereto and means to rotate both the whirl and tracktable.

23. An amusement apparatus comprisinga IOO IIO

Whirl, means to support the same from beto this specieaton inthepresence of two suhneath, and means to change the position of sorlbxngwltnesses.

said whirl so supported. A v 4 24. In an amusement apparatus a sphericalTHOMAS W' DCK' 5 Whirl and one or more olampingbands en- W tnesses:

circling' the same. J. C. MCKIBBIN,

1n testimony W hereofl I have signed my name J.. FRANK MCCORMACK.

